The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-08-24
TIE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
SOME SUGGESTIONS on \ VERY I,I-
PORTANT SUBJE:T.

10 tllc EulJOr Ol GnC N0"S ana Cptill
or: Tho question how we can best cdu
cate young men III order to fit thcm fol
life, and for its twofold struggle, partly
against the adverse forces Of nature,
partly against the over increasing intel
lcctual and industrial competition OF
other trained communities, should mos:
deeply engage every thoughtful and
patriotic citizen of tho State. AS this
duty to the rising generation is one OF
the gravest that can possibly arise in the
whole category of individual, social and
civic responsibilities, it should be up.
preached seriously, graveiy, earnestly,
rcvcrently, with an entire freedom from
prejudice and passion, and an eye single
to the asccrtaiument Of truth. Unfrrtu-
nately the question of education has not
heretofore been considered in this earn
est, patriotic spirit.
The present controversy Git can scarce
ly be called u discussion) over the best
methods of education of youth in the
studies pertaining to agriculture and
the mechanic arts" bids fair to 90 the
way of oil others of it's kind, and to be
decided not on its merits, but in accord
anco with the way in which it affects
conflicting individual or local intcl ests.
Now if this discussion were unimport-
ant, so that no great harm would result
from n decision i'll any direction, the
public could afford to leave q few dis
putants to fight it out. But innsnluch
as South Carolina has always been, and
most probably always will be, an agr.
cultural State III spite of booms and
tariffs and other alleged "diversifJ ing
influences, so that her chief wealth will
be derived directly from the soil by the
toll and sweat of n large proportion of
her people, it lis manifest necessity that
this problem of the Improvement OF her
extracted industries be solved with cor
rectness and solved with dispatch.
In the fierce competition Of the day
the State has no time To lose. Bat Il
blunder may be worse than crime. 4
false step may cost her thousands of
dollars directly and millions in its con
sequences. She IS, therefore, comp Ilol
to avoid apathy on one hand and too
great haste ON the other. She must act
promptly, but she must act wisely. She
must be sure she is right and thea 90
ahead. | sincerely hope that the dis.
cussion of this question will become
general. Full and free debate Is the
safeguard of republic. The sovereign
people may be trusted when they under
stand, but people misled is danger
Gus tyrant. give credit for sincerity
and honesty OF purpose to all who have
thus far had anything to say upon the
subject. | take it for granted that they
have no desire to propegrnte error or
to win their cause in any other way than
by sound reason based on undiaputed
facts.
Nevertheless tie public demands in it's
own interest thai those who assure to
teach must first thoroughly acqNnint
themselves with their subject; or that if
they fail in this, then mistakes must be
pointed out by some one else. In the
interest of truth, and OF serious, can
did, dispassionatc discussion Of this i'm
portant measure, desire to correct some
that have crept into the discussion.
1t has recently been stated 10y several
persons and newspapers that unless the
State establishes special Agricultural
college she cannot secure the benefits OF
tho Congressional "lIatch Act" which
appropriates $i5, 600 Il year for a2Ticul-
tural and scientific experimentation
Whether this is true or not can be seen
by reference to the following sections of
the Hatch Act ms passed.
"Section |. BE it enacted, &c, That
in order to aid in acquiring and dillnsinG
rmong the people OF the United States
useful and practical information on sub
jects connected with agriculture, there
shall be established under direction of
the college or colleges or agricultural
departments Of colleges in each State or
Territory established, or which may
hereafter be established in accordance
with the provisions of an Act approved
July 2, 1862, II department to bo known
and designated as an agricultural expert
ment station: Provided that in any State
or Territory in which two such colleges
haze been or may be SO established the
appropriation hereinafter made to such
State or Territory shall be equally divid-
ed between such colleges, unless the
Legislature Of such State or Territory
shall otherwise direct"
"Section 8. That i'll States having
colleges entitled under this section to
the benefits Of this Act and having also
agricultural experiment stations estab-
lahed by Law separate from said col
lcgcs, such States shall be authorized TO
apply such dement's 10 experiments al
stations SO established by such States;
and in case any State shall have cstab.
lshed under the provisions of said Act
of July 2, aforesaid, an agricultural de.
partment or experimental station i'll con
nection with any university, college or
institution not distinctly an agriculture,
college or school, and such State shall
have established or shall hereafter ostab-
lish separate agricultural college OF
school, which shall have connected
Herewith an experimental farm or sta,
ton, the Legislature of such State may
apply in whole or in part the appropria
ion by this Act made to such separate
agricultural college or school, and no
Legislature ehall by contract, express OF
implied, disable itself from so doing"
Section directs the appropriation to
bo made to "any college or colleges OF
agricultural departments of colleges,
onA Gooksnp U oIIu NI,1f in naoa fhnp